Last week, I began to take a look at player values. This is not in the vein of how they will help you win your current fantasy pennant race, but rather how they will be valued entering next year's draft with so much of the fantasy nation focusing on their fourth wide receiver ....
... Unless you are watching the Yankees every night, you have no idea how well Jason Giambi is swinging the bat. Everything is hit hard. His outs are line drives, sharp grounders, or flyballs to the warning track. This guy is simply killing the ball. Right now, you should be praying that the Bombers don't make the postseason. Because if they fizzle in these last few weeks of September, maybe the fantasy world will forget how well he's hitting. But if the Yanks make a postseason run, odds are Giambi will be re-exposed as a stud hitter. Apart from Albert Pujols, Mark Teixeira, Derrek Lee and David Ortiz, I don't know that there's a fantasy first baseman that I would be happy drafting ahead of Giambi in 2006. If he brings this same stroke with him in 2006, he is a legit MVP candidate. That's how well he's hitting ...
... Somehow, when Erik Bedard got hurt, he lost his control. Remember that in the beginning of the year, this guy was outdueling the likes of Roy Halladay. He has been thoroughly unimpressive in his last few starts. Either the Birds rushed him back, or he has lost something, but he should not be valued as anywhere near the pitcher he was before he got hurt ...
... You should know about the power of 25-year-old Johnny Gomes by now. What you might not recognize is the slugger's speed. And if whomever inevtiably replaces Lou Piniella isn't allergic to the running game, this in-his-prime slugger should swipe double-digit bases next year. Tack a couple of draft day dollars onto his name for that alone ...
... Willy Taveras = 2006 Bust. I own Taveras and have successfully exploited his stolen base ability this season. But he has no concept of the strike zone. When a man with his speed is on pace for less than 30 walks, the term "leadoff hitter" simply doesn't apply unless you're playing for Lloyd McClendon or Larry Bowa. Taveras may be the fastest man in the majors from home to first base. But he'd be better served taking a few more walks and a few less infield hits ...
... With Peter Gammons and the rest of Red Sox Nation ridiculously campaigning for Jason Varitek for MVP (when he's clearly the third-best candidate on the team), you are looking squarely at your most overrated catcher for 2006. Yes, he's lost a notable amount of weight from last year and is having a fine season. But he's in his mid-30s and is just as likely to turn in .275-15-60 next season instead of his current clip. There is no catcher apart from Victor Martinez that justifies any type of spending. Include Varitek near the top of your list of names of players to nominate early when suckers have lots of cash ...
... Arguably the most intriguing offseason position is what the Phillies will do at first base. On the one hand, moving Jim Thome's salary with his back issues will be challenging to say the least. On the other hand, moving a talent like Ryan Howard would be very unwise and unpopular unless you truly were able to get significant value in return. Problem is, all the other teams know Phillies' predicament, and their bargaining position is far from ideal. And there are no corner outfield spots vacant even if the Phils could convince themselves that either of these hulking sluggers could learn to play the outfield. But unless one of them picks up an infielder's glove this summer and magically becomes adequate at third base, something has to give here.